Exposure operation mechanism of camera

ABSTRACT

A mechanism, of a camera, to let an exposure operation be performed with a higher precision in a shorter time. The mechanism includes: a first device for taking an image of a region to be photographed and for outputting image information; a second device for detecting a subject region on the basis of the image information and for outputting subject region information; a third device for outputting a plurality of photometric values relative to a plurality of divided photometric regions; a fourth device for selecting and outtputting at least one of the photometric values which are output from the third device, on the basis of the subject region information; and a fifth device for calculating an optimal exposure value on the basis of the at least one, selected by the fourth device, of the photometric values.

This application is based upon application Nos. 10-219267, 10-247279 and10-247317 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a camera, and particularlyrelates to an exposure operation mechanism of the camera.

2. Description of the Related Arts

Conventionally, there have been proposed a variety of cameras which areable to perform an operation, or calculation, of exposure (i.e. exposureoperation). In order to improve, or to enhance, an accuracy of theoperation of exposure, as shown in FIG. 3 for example, there has beenproposed a camera, in which a plurality of photometric regions areoptically measured by a MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S4; a positionof a subject (i.e. an object to be photographed) is detected by anOUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECT POSITION S2', on the basis ofinformation, output from a FOCUSING DEVICE S6, upon a distance relativeto the subject, or on the basis of information, output therefrom, upon afocusing region; a photometric region is selected by a PHOTOMETRICREGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3, on the basis of the detected position ofthe subject; and an optimum exposure value is selected by an EXPOSUREOPERATION DEVICE S5 which makes use of the photometric value of theselected photometric region.

If the photometric region is selected according to a predeterminedalgorithm and then the exposure is operated or calculated by using thephotometric value, there is need of increasing the number of photometricregions, there is need of increasing the number of points for focusing,and/or there is need of complicating the algorithm, in order to enhancea precision of the exposure operation. Namely, with such an arrangement,the time, until the exposure is determined, is disadvantageouslyprolonged.

On the other hand, in order to improve, or to enhance, the accuracy ofthe operation of exposure, as shown in FIG. 38 for example, there hasbeen proposed a camera, in which a position of a subject (i.e. an objectto be photographed) is detected by an OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPONSUBJECT POSITION S20a, on the basis of a measuring value which aMULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50 measures by measuring a pluralityof photometric regions optically, and on the basis of focusinginformation output from a FOCUSING DEVICE S60; a DEVICE FOR CALCULATINGBRIGHTNESS OF MAIN SUBJECT S30 calculates a brightness of a main subjectthat is a principal subject to be photographed, on the basis of theposition of the subject, and on the basis of the measuring value which aMULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50 measures; and an optimum exposurevalue is calculated by an EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S40.

According to the arrangement, the exposure operation is executed on thebasis of a predetermined algorithm. In order to enhance a precision ofthe exposure operation, however, there is need of increasing the numberof photometric points and/or the number of focusing points, and/or thereis need of complicating the algorithm. Namely, with such an arrangement,the time, until the exposure is determined, is disadvantageouslyprolonged.

On the other hand, there have been proposed a variety of cameras whichare able to execute an exposure operation by determining one of thescenes, including a landscape, a close-up, a night scene, a portrait,and a sport, to be photographed. In this kind of camera, as shown inFIG. 51 for example, a SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200 determines one ofthe scenes to be photographed on the basis of photometric values whichare derived from optically measuring a plurality of photometric regionsby a MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S600 and on the basis of afocusing value which is measured by a FOCUSING DEVICE S500; and anEXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S400 calculates an optimum exposure value onthe basis of the information upon the scene, to be photographed, whichis determined by the SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200, and on the basisof the photometric value which is obtained by the MULTI-DIVISIONPHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S600. For example, a priority is given to its shutterspeed if it is a sport scene, and a priority is given to its aperture ifit is a landscape scene. According to the arrangement, the scenedetermination operation is executed on the basis of a predeterminedalgorithm. In order to enhance a precision of the scene determination,however, there is need of increasing the number of photometric pointsand/or the number of focusing points, and/or there is need ofcomplicating the algorithm. Namely, with such an arrangement, the timewhich is required for performing the scene determination, isdisadvantageously prolonged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acamera in which it is possible to execute an exposure operation, or anexposure calculation, with a high accuracy in a short time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the camera inwhich it is possible to execute an operation of scene determination, orof scene discrimination, with a high accuracy in a short time.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a camera, comprising: an imagesensor for sensing an image of a subject, or object, to be photographed,and for outputting subject region information by processing data of theimage; a plurality of light measuring sensors for optically measuring aplurality of divided photometric regions, wherein each of the lightmeasuring sensors outputs a photometric value of each of the dividedphotometric regions; a selector for selecting at least one of thedivided photometric regions, on a basis of the subject regioninformation which is output from the image sensor; and a calculator forcalculating an exposure control value, on a basis of the photometricvalue of the at least one, selected by the selector, of the dividedphotometric regions.

According to the mechanism, the selector can precisely select aphotometric region corresponding to a subject region, and the calculatorcan get, or calculate, accurate photometric data of the subject region.Therefore, the accuracy of exposure operation/calculation is improved(i.e. higher).

In the mechanism, for example, if the image sensor is constituted by adevice, such as a C-MOS image taking device, which can take in the imageof the subject, and can output the subject region information byprocessing data of the image, in a short time, the time for performingthe optical measurement (i.e. photometry), or the time for performing aphotometric algorithm, is shorten. Therefore, it is possible to realizea highly precise exposure operation which is achieved in a short time.

The one aspect of the present invention, for example, can be embodied asfollows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the image sensor may comprise an IMAGETAKING DEVICE S1 and an OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECTREGION S2. The IMAGE TAKING DEVICE S1 takes in, or senses, an image ofthe region to be photographed and outputs image processing information(for example, brightness information, color information, contourdetection information, vector detecting information, etc) to the OUTPUTDEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGION S2. The OUTPUT DEVICE FORINFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGION S2 detects the subject region in whichthe subject to be photographed exists on the basis of the imageprocessing information, and outputs the subject region information tothe selector (i.e. PHOTOMETRIC REGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3). ThePHOTOMETRIC REGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3 selects the photometricregion on the basis of the subject region information, and outputs thephotometric value of the selected photometric region to the calculator(i.e. EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S5). The EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S5calculates the optimum exposure value on the basis of the photometricvalue of the selected photometric region.

In the mechanism, the plurality of photometric values, relative to theplurality of photometric regions, optically measured by the lightmeasuring sensor (i.e. MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S4) maybe onceinput to the PHOTOMETRIC REGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3, and thephotometric value of the selected photometric region may be output fromthe PHOTOMETRIC REGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3 to the EXPOSURE OPERATIONDEVICE S5.

Alternatively, the photometric value of the photometric region selectedby the PHOTOMETRIC REGION DETERMINATION DEVICE S3, may be directlyoutput from the MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S4 to the EXPOSUREOPERATION DEVICE S5.

In the mechanism, a suitable degree of priority may be put on thephotometric regions corresponding to the subject region, and theEXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S5 may process the photometric value inaccordance with the degree of priority so as to calculate the value ofexposure.

In the mechanism, there may be further provided a distance detectingsensor (i.e. FOCUSING DEVICE S6), as shown in FIG. 2.

That is, the FOCUSING DEVICE S6, for example, may output focusinginformation (for example, focusing region information that designateswhich of the focusing regions is in focus, information upon a distanceup to the subject to be photographed, and so on) to the OUTPUT DEVICEFOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGION S2.

According to the mechanism, the OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPONSUBJECT REGION S2 detects the subject region with a higher precision, bymaking use not only of the image processing information output from theIMAGE TAKING DEVICE S1, but also of the focusing information output fromthe FOCUSING DEVICE S6. Therefore, the the EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S5can get the accurate photometric data of the subject region, thuspossible to enhance the accuracy of the exposure operation.

In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a camera, comprising: an imagesensor for sensing an image of a subject to be photographed, and foroutputting subject region information by processing data of the image; adetector for detecting a brightness of a main subject of the subject, ona basis of the subject region information output by the image sensor;and a calculator for calculating an exposure control value, on a basisof the brightness, detected by the detector, of the main subject.

According to the mechanism, the main subject region is determinedprecisely on the basis of the subject region information output from theimage sensor, and the brightness of the main subject is calculated onthe basis of the precise determination of the main subject region.Therefore, the accuracy of optimum exposure calculation is enhancedand/or the time to calculate the photometric algorithm is shortened.Namely, it is possible to realize a highly precise exposure operationwhich is achieved in a short time.

Another aspect of the present invention, for example, can be embodied asfollows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 36, the image sensor may comprise an IMAGETAKING DEVICE S10 and an OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECTREGION S20. The IMAGE TAKING DEVICE S10 takes in, or senses, an image ofthe region to be photographed and outputs image processing information(for example, brightness information, color information, contourdetection information, vector detecting information, etc) to the OUTPUTDEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGION S20. The OUTPUT DEVICE FORINFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGION S20 detects the subject region in whichthe subject to be photographed exists on the basis of the imageprocessing information, and outputs the subject region information tothe detector (i.e. DEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAIN SUBJECTS30). The subject region information can include, for example, thebrightness information, contour information, vector information, acombination of the contour information and color information, positionalinformation (for example, central position or not), information uponbright mass (or lump) or upon dark mass (or lump) or upon large mass (orlump) or upon mass (or lump) which locates adjacent to a focussingphotometric area or upon mass (or lump) which is moving, or upon thelike. The detector (i.e. DEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAINSUBJECT S30) determines the main subject region in which a main subject,which is a main object to be photographed, exists on the basis of thesubject region information, and calculates the brightness of the mainsubject region. The DEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAIN SUBJECTS30 outputs the main subject brightness information concerning thebrightness of the main subject. The main subject brightness informationcan also include such pieces of information upon, for example, theposition of the main subject, a size thereof, a difference in brightnesswith respect to the brightness of the background, etc. The calculator(i.e. EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S40) calculates the exposure on thebasis of the main subject brightness information.

In the mechanism, there may be further provided a plurality of lightmeasuring sensors (i.e. MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50) and adistance detecting sensor (i.e. FOCUSING DEVICE S60), as shown in FIG.37.

That is, the MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50 may outputphotometric information both to the OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPONSUBJECT REGION S20 and to the DEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAINSUBJECT S30, and/or the FOCUSING DEVICE S60 can output focusinginformation to the OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPON SUBJECT REGIONS20. According to the mechanism, the OUTPUT DEVICE FOR INFORMATION UPONSUBJECT REGION S20 may output the subject region information to theDEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAIN SUBJECT S30, on the basis ofthe image processing information which is output from the IMAGE TAKINGDEVICE S10, and on the basis of the photometric information which isoutput from the MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50 and/or thefocusing information which is output from the focusing DEVICE S60. Onthe other hand, the DEVICE FOR CALCULATING BRIGHTNESS OF MAIN SUBJECTS30 determines the main subject region in which a main subject, which isa main object to be photographed, exists on the basis of the subjectregion information and the photometric information output from theMULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S50, and calculates the brightness ofthe main subject.

In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspectof the present invention, there is provided a camera, comprising: animage sensor for sensing an image of a subject to be photographed, andfor outputting image process information by processing photographingdata of the image; a discriminator for discriminating a photographingscene on a basis of the image process information which is output fromthe image sensor; a plurality of light measuring sensors for opticallymeasuring a plurality of divided photometric regions, wherein each ofthe light measuring sensors outputs a photometric value of each of thedivided photometric regions; and a calculator for calculating anexposure control value, on a basis of discrimination data which isoutput from the discriminator and of the photometric value which isoutput from each of the light measuring sensors.

According to the mechanism, the discriminator can precisely discriminatethe photographing scene, namely can precisely select at least one ofphotographing scenes, on the basis of the image process informationwhich is output from the image sensor. Therefore, with the mechanism, itis possible to enhance the accuracy of exposure and/or to shorten thetime to calculate the exposure (i.e. to perform the exposure operation).Also, it is possible to discriminate a photographing scene (i.e. toperform a scene determination) with a high accuracy in a short time.

The still another aspect of the present invention, for example, can beembodied as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 49, the image sensor (i.e. IMAGE TAKING DEVICES100) can take, or sense, an image included within a region to bephotographed, and the image sensor outputs the image process information(for example, image information upon a photographing image, contourdetection information, vector detecting information, color information,and so on) to the discriminator (i.e. SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200).The SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200 discriminates, or determines, ascene to be photographed on the basis of the image process information,and then the SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200 outputs a piece ofdiscrimination data (or a piece of scene determining information) to thecalculator (i.e. EXPOSURE OPERATION DEVICE S400). The image processinformation can include information upon, for example, a main subjectregion in which a main subject that is a principal subject to bephotographed exists, a distance between a camera body and the mainsubject, the background, and the like. In the arrangement, for example,a night scene can be discriminated by detecting a light source or acolor fog. A moving object or a sports scene can be discriminated byvector information. A close-up scene, a portrait scene or a landscapescene can be discriminated by an occupation ratio of the main subjectregion to the background region. The calculator (i.e. EXPOSURE OPERATIONDEVICE S400) calculates an optimum exposure value on the basis of thephotometric value output from a plurality of light measuring sensors(i.e. MULTI-DIVISION PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE S300) and on the basis of thediscrimination data output from the SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200.

In the mechanism, there may be further provided a distance detectingsensor (i.e. FOCUSING DEVICE S700), as shown in FIG. 50.

That is, the SCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200 can discriminate aphotographing scene, or execute the operation for the scenedetermination, on the basis of the image process information output formthe IMAGE TAKING DEVICE S100 and on the basis of the focusinginformation output from the FOCUSING DEVICE S700, and then the SCENEDETERMINATION DEVICE S200 outputs discrimination data to the EXPOSUREOPERATION DEVICE S400.

According to the mechanism, not only the image process informationoutput from the IMAGE TAKING DEVICE S100, but also the focusinginformation output from the focusing DEVICE S700 are employed for theSCENE DETERMINATION DEVICE S200 to discriminate the photographing scene.Therefore, with the mechanism, it is possible to enhance the accuracy ofexposure and/or to shorten the time to calculate the exposure (i.e. toperform the exposure operation). Also, it is possible to discriminate aphotographing scene (i.e. to perform a scene determination) with ahigher accuracy in a short time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome clear from the following description taken in conjunction withthe preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a camera according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to a prior art;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a camera accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the cameraaccording to a modification of the first embodiment thereof;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the camera of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the cameraaccording to a modification of the first embodiment thereof;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the cameraaccording to a modification of the first embodiment thereof;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view which shows an arrangement of a C-MOSimage operation processing sensor, a multi-division photometric elementand a multi-point focusing element, of the camera of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view which shows an arrangement of the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor, and the multi-point focusing element,of the camera of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view which shows an arrangement of the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor, a multi-division light adjustingelement and the multi-point focusing element, of the camera of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view which illustrates output information(image information) of the C-MOS image operation processing sensor;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view which illustrates output information(turning-over information) of the C-MOS image operation processingsensor;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view which illustrates output information(edge-detection information) of the C-MOS image operation processingsensor;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view which illustrates output information(color information) of the C-MOS image operation processing sensor;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing image processing information(information upon detection of a center of gravity) which is calculatedfrom the output information of the C-MOS image operation processingsensor;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing image processing information(information upon detection of a vector) which is calculated from theoutput information of the C-MOS image operation processing sensor;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing image processing information(information upon a region of a subject to be photographed) which iscalculated from the output information of the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor;

FIGS. 19(A) through 19(C) are an explanatory view showing a calculationof information upon a subject region;

FIGS. 20(A) through 20(D) are an explanatory view showing a calculationof information upon a subject region if a photometric element (or aphotometric sensor), which is mounted independently of the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor, is employed;

FIGS. 21(A) through 21(C) are an explanatory view showing a selection ofphotometric region, if the photometric element is not employed, and ifan output from the C-MOS image operation processing sensor is used asphotometric value for performing an exposure operation;

FIGS. 22(A) through 22(D) are an explanatory view showing a selection ofphotometric region, if the photometric element, which is mountedindependently of the C-MOS image operation processing sensor, isemployed, and if an output from the photometric element is used as aphotometric value for performing an exposure operation;

FIGS. 23(A) through 23(E) are an explanatory view for selecting aphotometric region by also making use of information upon distance, ifthe photometric element is not employed, and if the output from theC-MOS image operation processing sensor is used as the photometric valuefor performing an exposure operation;

FIGS. 24(A) through 24(D) are an explanatory view showing a selection ofphotometric region if there exist a plurality of subject regions;

FIGS. 25(A) through 25(C) are an explanatory view showing a calculationof a main background occupation rate, if the photometric element is notemployed, and if the output from the C-MOS image operation processingsensor is used as the photometric value for performing the exposureoperation;

FIGS. 26(A) through 26(D) are an explanatory view showing a calculationof the main background occupation rate, if the photometric element,which is mounted independently of the C-MOS image operation processingsensor, is employed, and if the output from the photometric element isused as the photometric value for performing an exposure operation;

FIG. 27 is a fundamental flowchart showing a general operation of thecamera, if the photometric element is not employed, and if the outputfrom the C-MOS image operation processing sensor is used as thephotometric value for performing the exposure operation;

FIG. 28 is a fundamental flowchart showing a general operation of thecamera, if the photometric element, which is mounted independently ofthe C-MOS image operation processing sensor, is employed, and if theoutput from the photometric element is used as the photometric value forperforming an exposure operation;

FIG. 29 is a detailed flowchart of step #22 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a detailed flowchart of step #23 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a detailed flowchart of steps #16 through #20 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 32 is a detailed flowchart of step #54 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 33 is a detailed flowchart of step #56 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 34 is a detailed flowchart of step #60 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 35 is a detailed flowchart of step #62 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram of a camera according to a prior art;

FIG. 39 is a fundamental flowchart showing a general operation of thecamera according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a detailed flowchart of step #1018 of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a detailed flowchart of steps #1046 and #1048 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a detailed flowchart of step #1050 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 43 is a detailed flowchart of step #1052 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 44 is a detailed flowchart of step #1054 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 45 is a detailed flowchart of step #1060 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 46 is a detailed flowchart of step #1062 of FIG. 40;

FIG. 47 is a detailed flowchart of step #1064 of FIG. 46;

FIG. 48 is a detailed flowchart of step #1066 of FIGS. 40 and 46;

FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram of the camera according to an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram of a camera according to a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the description of the preferred embodiments according to thepresent invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like or correspondingparts are designated by like reference numerals throughout theaccompanying drawings.

A detailed description is made below upon a camera according to a firstembodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 4 through35, and upon the camera according to a second embodiment thereof withreference to FIGS. 4 through 26, and FIGS. 39 through 48, respectively.

First, referring to FIGS. 4 through 35, the description is made upon thecamera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a main internal construction of the camera of thefirst embodiment.

A camera main body 10 is provided with an auxiliary light emittingsection 32, a light adjustment module 34, a photometric module 36, afocusing module 38, a C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, an AFencoder 42 and an AF actuator 44, each of which is connected to acontrol microcomputer 30.

The control microcomputer 30 includes a CPU and a memory and totallycontrols an operation of the camera. The auxiliary light emittingsection 32 emits an auxiliary light. The light adjustment module 34controls the light emission of the auxiliary light emitting section 32.The photometric module (photometric sensor) 36 measures a brightness ofa subject (i.e. an object to be photographed). The focusing module(focusing sensor) 38 measures a distance between the camera and thesubject.

The C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40 is arranged so as to takea finder image which is formed at an image-forming position (on afocusing screen locating below a penta-prism) in a finder opticalsystem. More specifically, the C-MOS image operation processing sensor40 operates so as to take in the image within a region to bephotographed by the camera, so as to process the image at a high speed,and so as to output the image processing information upon a shape (or acontour) of the image, and/or upon a movement of the image (i.e. itsdirection and amount of movement) and so on, to the controlmicrocomputer 30. The C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40 isconstituted by a MOS type light-receiving cell able to read image at ahigher speed than CCD, and an image calculation operation part forspeedily processing the read data and for performing a featureextraction, in which the MOS type light-receiving cell and the imagecalculation operation part are integrated into one single element. TheC-MOS image operation processing sensor 40 has an informationcompressing function and a parallel processing function, both of whichthe human retina has. The use of this C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40 enables the image information input device to be improved infunction, to be reduced in size (i.e. to be miniaturized), to beincreased in speed of operation, and to be reduced in consumption ofpower. The control microcomputer 30 can execute its control operation athigh speed, because the control microcomputer 30 can only process, ormanage, data with a small amount of information after the featureextraction.

The AF encoder 42 detects an amount of movement of the AF actuator 44.The AF actuator 44 drives a focus lens in an optical system 54 of aninterchangeable lens 50 via a lens drive system of the interchangeablelens 50.

The interchangeable lens 50 is further provided with a lensmicrocomputer 52, in addition to the optical system 54. The lensmicrocomputer 52 is connected to the control microcomputer 30 of thecamera main body 10, and it performs communication with the controlmicrocomputer 30.

In more detail, the camera has a construction as shown in a blockdiagram of FIG. 6.

That is, the camera main body 10 is provided with a DC/DC (DC-to-DC)converter 24, the photometric sensor 36, a focusing sensor 38, the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor 40, a pair of motor drivers 41 and 43,an aperture magnet 46, a shutter magnet 48, a body display device 16, anadjustment terminal 14, and various switches S1, S2, SMODE, SUP andSDOWN, each of which is connected to the control microcomputer 30.

The DC/DC converter 24 makes constant a voltage supplied from a battery22 which is loaded inside the camera main body 10, and it constantlysupplies its power to the control microcomputer 30. In the arrangement,when any one of the switches S1, S2, SMODE, SUP and SDOWN is operated,then the DC/DC converter 24 supplies the constant voltage to the varioussensors 36, 38 and 40, the motor drivers 41 and 43, the aperture magnet46, the shutter magnet 48, the body display 16, and the lensmicrocomputer 52 of the interchangeable lens 50, under the control ofthe control microcomputer 30.

The motor driver 41 drives the AF motor 44 for moving the focus lens inthe interchangeable lens 50, and the motor driver 43 drives the filmfeeding motor 45 for feeding the film, respectively. The aperture magnet46 controls, or drives, an aperture for executing the exposureoperation. The shutter magnet 48 controls, or drives, the shutter.

The body display device 16 displays a state of the camera, photographinginformation, and so on. The adjustment terminal 14 is used for adjustingthe sensors 36 and 40.

The switch S1 is a switch for executing the photometric measuring,focusing, calculation processing, and AF driving control of theinterchangeable lens 50, in order to prepare photographing. The switchS1 is turned on when a shutter button is depressed (i.e. pressed down)halfway. The switch S2 is a switch for executing the exposure operation.The switch S2 is turned on when the shutter button is completely presseddown. The switch SUP and the switch SDOWN are switches for changing asetting value of the shutter speed, and value of the aperture. Theswitch SMODE is a switch for changing a setting of photographingcondition.

The camera of the present invention is not limited to the constructionshown in FIG. 4, and it can be embodied in a variety of forms.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5 which shows a first modification to thefirst embodiment, the camera may have a construction in which a drivingcontrol mechanism of an interchangeable lens 50a is provided inside theinterchangeable lens 50a, where the driving control mechanism has an AFactuator 56 for driving the focus lens in the optical system 54, an AFencoder 57 for detecting the driving amount of the AF actuator 56, a PFencoder 58 for detecting a position of the focus lens, and a terminationdetecting switch 59 for detecting a limit of movement of the focus lens,and where the focus lens in the optical system 54 is driven bycommunication between a lens microcomputer 52 of the interchangeablelens 50a and the control microcomputer 30 of the camera main body 10.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7 which shows a second modification tothe first embodiment, and as shown in FIG.8 which shows a thirdmodification to the first embodiment, respectively, the photometricmodule (i.e. photometric sensor) 36 may be cancelled, and the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor 40a may also have a function as aphotometric sensor.

In each of the aforementioned cameras, pixels of the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor 40, the multi-division photometric elementof the photometric sensor 36, and the multi-point focusing element ofthe focusing sensor 38, have, on a screen, a relative arrangement asshown in FIGS. 9 through 11. That is, FIG. 9 shows an example,corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40, the multi-point focusing element 38, and themulti-division photometric element 36 are combined to each other; on theother hand, FIG. 11 shows an example, corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, inwhich the C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, the multi-pointfocusing element 38, and the light adjusting element 34 are combined toeach other. Meanwhile, FIG. 10 shows an example, corresponding to FIGS.7 and 8, in which the multi-division photometric element of thephotometric sensor 36 is eliminated, and an output of the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor 40a is also used for photometric measuring.Namely, FIG. 10 shows the example in which the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40a and the multi-point focusing element 38 arecombined to each other.

In each of the aforementioned cameras, the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40, 40a can process the image which has been taken,and it can output a variety of pieces of image processing information asshown in FIGS. 12 through 18.

That is, the C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, 40a can output:

(A) image information (see FIG. 12);

(B) turning-over information (see FIG. 13);

(C) edge-detecting (contour detecting) information (see FIG. 14); and

(D) color information (see FIG. 15).

As shown in FIG. 12, the image information is a direct output of thephotoelectric output of each pixel. As shown in FIG. 13, theturning-over information is an inverted output of the photoelectricoutput of each pixel, where it outputs a reference voltage Vref at timeof darkness, and the output comes closer to 0 V as brightness increases.As shown in FIG. 14, the edge-detecting information (contour detectioninformation) is an output corresponding to a difference between adjacentpixels, where only the pixels with the difference which is more than apredetermined value can be detected as an edge. As shown in FIG. 15, thecolor information is the image information upon each component image ofR, G and B which is derived from resolving the taken image through an Rfilter, a G filter and a B filter. Further, the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40 can output (A) the image information, (B) theturning-over information, and (C) the edge-detecting information, pereach component image R, G and B.

As shown in FIGS. 16 through 18, the C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40 can further calculate, and output, a variety of pieces ofimage processing information, such as gravity-center-detectinginformation (i.e. information upon detecting a center of gravity),vector detecting information, and information upon subject region, onthe basis of the image information, turning-over information,edge-detecting information (contour information), and color information.

The gravity-center-detecting information is obtained on the basis of thecoordinates (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), . . . , (Xk, Yk) of all the pixels(where the total number is assumed to be k) detected as an edge as shownin (A-1), by calculating the coordinates (Gx, Gy) of the center ofgravity G according to an equation

    (Gx, Gy)=((X1+X2+ . . . +Xk)/k, (Y1+Y2+ . . . +Yk)/k)

as shown in (A-2). If there are a plurality of pieces of edge-detectinginformation, then it is possible to calculate the center of gravity foreach of a series of edges.

Meanwhile, the vector detecting information is obtained on the basis ofthe center of gravity G_(n-1) (GX_(n-1), GY_(n-1)) of the (n-1)-th frameand on the basis of the center of gravity G_(n) (GX_(n), GY_(n)) of then-th frame as shown in (B-1), by calculating the movement vector V ofthe center of gravity as shown in (B-2). That is, vector starting pointcoordinates: G_(n-1) (GX_(n-1), GY_(n-1)), a direction component:D(GX_(n) -GX_(n-1), GY_(n) -GY_(n-1)), and a velocity component:

    VG={(GX.sub.n -GX.sub.n-1).sup.2 +(GY.sub.n -GY.sub.n-1).sup.2 }.sup.1/2 (frame time),

are calculated. If there are a plurality of edges, it is possible todivide the edges of every region, to obtain the center of gravity ofevery divided edge, to obtain the vector information for each dividededge, and to determine the edge having an identical vector direction andvelocity as the edge of an identical subject to be photographed.

Meanwhile, the information upon subject region is obtained on the basisof the edge-detecting information and on the basis of thegravity-center-detecting information as shown in (C-1), by calculatingthe coordinates of the upper, lower, left-hand and right-hand edges, andby calculating the magnitudes in the X- and Y-directions as shown in(C-2) . That is, the left-hand edge coordinates X_(L) (HX_(L), Gy) whichare located nearest to the center of gravity G and which are located onthe left-hand side relative to the center of gravity G where theY-coordinate of the left-hand edge coordinates X_(L) is the same as Gyof the center of gravity G(Gx, Gy), the right-hand edge coordinatesX_(R) (HX_(R), Gy) which are located nearest to the center of gravity Gand which are located on the right-hand side relative to the center ofgravity G where the Y-coordinate of right-hand edge coordinates X_(R) isthe same as Gy of the center of gravity G(Gx, Gy), the upper edgecoordinates Y_(U) (Gx, VY_(U)) which are located nearest to the centerof gravity G and which are located on the upper side relative to thecenter of gravity G where the X-coordinate of the upper edge coordinatesY_(U), is the same as Gx of the center of gravity G(Gx, Gy), and thelower edge coordinates Y_(D) (GX, VY_(D)) which are located nearest tothe center of gravity G and which are located on the lower side relativeto the center of gravity where the X-coordinate of the lower edgecoordinates Y_(D) is the same as Gx of the center of gravity G(Gx, Gy),are calculated, respectively. On the other hand, the magnitude Lx in theX-direction is calculated by

    Lx=|HX.sub.R -HX.sub.L |,

and the magnitude Ly in the Y-direction is calculated by

    LY=|VY.sub.D -VY.sub.U |.

If there are a plurality of pieces of edge-detecting information andgravity-center-detecting information, then the information upon subjectregion may be calculated per each center of gravity.

Next, an algorithm for selecting the photometric region by making use ofthe information upon subject region, will be described below.

Firstly, an algorithm for selecting the photometric region with respectto a main subject region As, will be described.

For example, if the image data (photometric output) from the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor 40a is directly used as the photometricvalue for the exposure operation as performed in the camera shown inFIG. 7 or FIG. 8, then a rectangular region surrounded by the left-handedge coordinate X_(L), the right-hand edge coordinate X_(R), the upperedge coordinate Y_(U), and the lower edge coordinate Y_(D) shown in FIG.19(A), is selected as the main subject region As, as shown in FIG.19(B). Then, the photometric output of the pixels included in the mainsubject region As, among the pixels of the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40, is directly used as the photometric value forperforming the exposure operation. In this case, the weight of thepixels located near the center of gravity G(Gx, Gy) of the subjectregion As may be increased, as shown in FIG. 19(C).

Meanwhile, for example, if the photometric value which is obtained bythe photometric element of the photometric sensor 36 providedseparately, or independently, from the C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40, is used as the photometric value for performing the exposureoperation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, then themain subject region As is sought, similarly to the aforementionedmanner, from the information upon subject region, and the output fromthe photometric elements S2, S3 and S7 locating within the main subjectregion as is used as a photometric value for executing the exposureoperation, as shown in FIGS. 20(A) through 20(D). In this case, it ispossible to obtain the brightness of the main subject by simplyaveraging the photometric outputs of the selected photometric devicesS2, S3 and S7, or to obtain the brightness of the main subject byweighting similarly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 19(C), for example.

Next, an algorithm for selecting the photometric region with respect toa background region Aa, will be described below.

For example, if the image data (photometric output) from the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor 40a is directly used as the photometricvalue for the exposure operation as performed in the camera shown inFIG. 7 or FIG. 8, then a region outside a rectangular region (see FIG.21(B) or FIG. 21(C)) that includes the edge coordinates X_(L), X_(R),Y_(U) and Y_(D), is selected as a background region Aa by making use ofthe edge coordinates X_(L), X_(R), Y_(U) and Y_(D) of the subject regionas shown in FIG. 21(A). In the arrangement, it is possible to treat allthe pixels included in the background region Aa with the same weight asshown in FIG. 21(B), or to treat the pixels included therein withdifferent weights in accordance with the positions of the pixels or withthe outputs of pixels as shown in FIG. 21(C).

Meanwhile, for example, if the photometric value which is obtained bythe photometric element of the photometric sensor 36 providedseparately, or independently, from the C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40, is used as the photometric value for performing the exposureoperation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, then,photometric elements S0, S1, S4 through S6, and S8 through S13, locatingwithin the region Aa that is outside a rectangular region, whichincludes a plurality of edge coordinates X_(L), X_(R), Y_(U) and Y_(D)and is surrounded by the plurality of edge coordinates X_(L), X_(R),Y_(U) and Y_(D) of the subject region, are selected as the photometricelements in the background region Aa, as shown in FIGS. 22 (A) through22 (D). It is possible to determine the background brightness byprocessing the photometric output of the photometric element selected asthe photometric region with the same weight, or to change the weight ofeach photometric element, similarly to the arrangement as shown in FIG.21(C).

Next, an algorithm for selecting the photometric region by making use offocusing information, will be described below.

For example, if the image data (photometric output) from the C-MOS imageoperation processing sensor 40a is directly used as the photometricvalue for the exposure operation as performed in the camera shown inFIG. 7 or FIG. 8, then, a main subject region As is determined on thebasis of a mutual positional relation between information upon a subjectregion and a focusing region (i.e. focal islands I1 through I3), asshown in FIGS. 23(A) through 23(C).

That is, a focal island that the focusing value is equal to the focaldistance, or a subject region having a center of gravity which isclosest to the nearest island with the smallest focusing value, isselected as the main subject region As. For example, assuming that thefocal island I2 is the nearest island as shown in FIG. 23(D), then theedge region having a center of gravity G2 is determined as the mainsubject region As. Also, the main subject region As may be selected anddetermined by incorporating brightness information to this. For example,if a periphery of the center of gravity G2 has an excessively low orhigh brightness, then the edge region having the center of gravity G2 isnot selected as the main subject region.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23(E), a region which includes the islands I1and I3 except the nearest island I2 and which is located outside themain subject region As, is selected as a background photometric regionAa. Subsequently, the exposure operation is executed on the basis of thephotometric output of the pixels which are included in the main subjectphotometric region As and in the background region Aa, similarly to theaforementioned procedure.

Meanwhile, for example, if the photometric value which is obtained bythe photometric element of the photometric sensor 36 providedseparately, or independently, from the C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40, is used as the photometric value for performing the exposureoperation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the sameprocedure, or operation, is carried out.

An algorithm for calculating a main subject brightness, when a pluralityof main subject regions exist, by setting a degree of priority to theregions, will be described below.

If the image data (photometric output) from the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40a is directly used as the photometric value for theexposure operation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8,if the information upon subject regions of FIG. 24(A) and the focalislands I1 through I3 of FIG. 24(B) have a mutual relation as shown inFIG. 24(C), namely if there are a plurality of candidate regions one ofwhich can be a main subject, then, photometric regions AS1, AS2 and AS3of the candidate regions are set, as shown in FIG. 24(D), similarly tothe above. Then, the degrees of priority P1, P2 and P3 of thephotometric regions AS1, AS2 and AS3 are specifically set.

For example, the focal island, or the region having a center of gravityclosest to the nearest island, is selected as the main subject region ofthe first priority as the highest priority. More specifically, forexample, if the focal island I2 is the nearest island, the edge regionhaving the center of gravity G2 is regarded as the main subject, and thedegree of priority P2 of the photometric region AS2 is set to five, forexample. Relative to the photometric regions AS1 and AS3 having theother centers of gravity G1 and G3 are set degrees of priority in theorder of increasing distance up to the subject, on the basis of thefocusing values of the islands I1 and I3. For example, if the distanceup to the subject decreases in the order of the photometric regions AS2,AS3 and AS1, then the degree of priority P3 of the photometric regionAS3 is set to three, and the degree of priority P1 of the photometricregion AS1 is set to one. In this relation, the degree of priority P1through P3 is assumed to have a higher order (i.e. a higher degree ofpriority) as the number of the degree of priority P1 through P3increases.

Alternatively, the degree of priority may be determined according toanother method of determination. For example, the degree of priority ofeach region may be set to be higher in the order of increasing thedistance up to the nearest region AS2.

A brightness BVS of the main subject is calculated in accordance to thefollowing equation on the basis of the photometric output of the pixelsincluded in the photometric regions AS1 through AS3 and on the basis ofthe degrees of priority P1 through P3 of the photometric regions.

Equation 1 ##EQU1## where n1 is the number of pixels included in theregion AS1,

n2 is the number of pixels included in the region AS2,

n3 is the number of pixels included in the region AS3,

BV_(AS1) k is the photometric output of the k-th pixel in the regionAS1,

BV_(AS2) i is the photometric output of the i-th pixel in the regionAS2, and

BV_(AS3) j is the photometric output of the j-th pixel in the regionAS3.

By the way, if the degrees of priority of all the subject regions aremade equal to one another (for example, if P1=P2=P3=1), then thecalculation is to be executed with the weights of the regions beingequalized. Through this calculation, the operation is simplified.

Next, a case where the degrees of priority other than the highest degreeof priority are determined by incorporating a variety of factors will bedescribed below.

First of all, the photometric region about the subject region includinga focused, focusing region, is determined as a highest-priority regionA_(SM). In this case, the degree of priority PM of the highest-priorityregion A_(SM) is set to five. Further, the focal distance of thehighest-priority region A_(SM) is assumed to be DV_(M), the coordinatesof the center of gravity of the highest-priority region A_(SM) areassumed to be G_(M) (GX_(M), Gy_(M)) and the intra-regional averagebrightness of the highest-priority region A_(SM) is assumed to beBV_(SM--) ave.

Next, in regard to a photometric region A_(Sk) other than thehighest-priority region A_(SM), various priority ratios E_(D), E_(DL),E_(G), E_(DB), E_(B) and E_(S) are calculated by comparison with thehighest-priority region A_(SM) or the like, and the degree of priorityPk of the region A_(Sk) other than the highest-priority region A_(SM) issought for according to the following equation.

    Pk=P.sub.M ×(E.sub.D ×E.sub.DL ×E.sub.G ×E.sub.DB ×E.sub.B ×E.sub.S)

The priority ratio E_(D) is a distance priority ratio representingwhether each region is near or far from the highest-priority regionA_(SM) in the direction of optical axis, and the priority ratio E_(D) issought for by comparing the focal distance DV_(Sk) of the region A_(Sk)with the focal distance D_(VM) of the highest-priority region A_(SM).That is, the absolute value:

    ΔDV.sub.MK =|DV.sub.Sk -D.sub.VM|

of the focal distance between the region A_(SK) and the highest-priorityregion A_(SM) is first obtained, and the priority ratio E_(D) isobtained from the following TABLE.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Distance Priority Ratio: E.sub.D Calculation TABLE                                                             Equal to                                                                      Or    Focusing                               .increment.DV.sub.MK                                                                Within   From 0.25                                                                              From 0.5 greater                                                                             region not                             (DV)  0.25     to 0.5   to 1.0   than 1.0                                                                            included                               ______________________________________                                        E.sub.D                                                                             1.0      0.9      0.7      0.4   1.0                                    ______________________________________                                    

The priority ratio E_(DL) is the gravity center position priority ratiorepresenting whether each region is near or far from thehighest-priority region A_(SM) in the X- and Y-directions. A distance:

    ΔL={(Gxk-GxM).sup.2 +(Gyk-GyM).sup.2 }.sup.1/2

between the center of gravity Gk (Gxk, Gyk) of the region A_(Sk) and thecoordinates GM (GxM, GyM) of center of gravity of the highest-priorityregion A_(SM) is first obtained, and then the gravity center positionpriority ratio E_(DL) is sought for from the following TABLE.

    ______________________________________                                        Gravity Center Position Priority Ratio: E.sub.DL Calculation TABLE                                                Equal to or                                                                   greater                                   .increment.L                                                                        Within 10                                                                              From 10 to 15                                                                             From 15 to 20                                                                          than 20                                   ______________________________________                                        E.sub.DL                                                                            1.0      0.9         0.7      0.2                                       ______________________________________                                    

The priority ratio E_(G) is an absolute gravity center position ratiofor reducing the degree of priority when the gravity center position ofthe region A_(Sk) is located at an extreme upper end position of thescreen. On the basis of a relation of magnitude between a gravity centercoordinates Gk (Gxk, Gyk) of the region A_(Sk), an X-coordinate Xmin ata left-hand end of the screen, an X-coordinate Xmax at a right-hand endof the screen, a Y-coordinate Ymax at an upper end of the screen, and aY-coordinate Ymin at a lower end of the screen, the absolute gravitycenter position priority ratio E_(G) is obtained from the followingTABLE.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Absolute Gravity Center Position Priority Ratio: E.sub.G Calculation          TABLE                                                                                                               Other than                                  Gxk<      Gxk>     Gyk<    Gyk>   conditions                              .increment.L                                                                      Xmin + 5  Xmax - 5 Ymin + 5                                                                              Ymax - 5                                                                             on the Left                             ______________________________________                                        E.sub.G                                                                           0.1       0.1      0.1     0.1    1.0                                     ______________________________________                                    

The priority ratio E_(DB) is a brightness priority ratio representingwhether a difference in brightness relative to the highest-priorityregion A_(SM) is great or small. The absolute value:

    ΔBV.sub.MK =|BVsk.sub.-- ave-BV.sub.SM-- ave|

of a difference between intra-regional average brightness BV_(SK--) avein the region A_(Sk) and the intra-regional average brightness BV_(SM--)ave in the highest-priority region A_(SM) is calculated and obtainedwith reference to the following TABLE.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Brightness Priority Ratio: E.sub.DB Calculation TABLE                                                            Equal to or                                .increment.BV.sub.MK                                                                           From 0.5   From 1.0                                                                             greater                                    (BV)    Within 0.5                                                                             to 1.0     to 2.0 than 2.0                                   ______________________________________                                        E.sub.DB                                                                              1.0      0.9        0.8    0.6                                        ______________________________________                                    

The priority ratio E_(B) is an absolute brightness priority ratio forreducing the degree of priority when the intra-regional averagebrightness BV_(SK--) ave in the region A_(SK) has an excessively highbrightness, and the priority ratio E_(B) is sought for with reference tothe following TABLE.

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Absolute Brightness Priority Ratio: E.sub.B Calculation TABLE                 BV.sub.SK ave                                                                              BV 10.5 or less                                                                          BV 10.5 or more                                       ______________________________________                                        E.sub.B      1.0        0.1                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The priority ratio E_(S) is a magnitude priority ratio for reducing thedegree of priority when the magnitude of the region A_(SK) isexcessively small. From the magnitude information upon the regionA_(SK), namely from the number S_(K) of pixels (the number of pixels inthe C-MOS image calculating operation sensor) included in the region,the magnitude priority ratio is sought for with reference to thefollowing TABLE.

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Magnitude Priority Ratio: E.sub.S Calculation TABLE                           S.sub.K                                                                              S.sub.K ≦ 6                                                                          6 < S.sub.K ≦ 10                                                                 10 < S.sub.K                                   ______________________________________                                        E.sub.S                                                                              0.2           0.6       1.0                                            ______________________________________                                    

By the way, P_(K) can be equal to P_(M). If P_(K) =P_(M), then all thesubject regions are to be processed with the same weight, allowing theoperation to be simplified.

Next, a calculation of a ratio (hereinafter, referred to as mainbackground occupation rate) between the main subject region and thebackground region, relative to a photographing region, will be describedbelow.

If the image data (photometric output) from the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40a is directly used as the photometric value for theexposure operation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8,the main background occupation rate is calculated on a basis ofselecting an inside of the rectangle including the edge coordinatesX_(L), X_(R), Y_(U) and Y_(D) as the main subject region As as shown inFIG. 25(B), with reference to the information upon the main subjectregion shown in FIG. 25(A), namely with reference to the edgecoordinates X_(L), X_(R), Y_(U) and Y_(D), and on a basis of selectingan outside of the rectangle including the edge coordinates X_(L), X_(R),Y_(U) and Y_(D) as the background region Aa as shown in FIG. 25(C).Then, the number of pixels Ns of the main subject region As, and thenumber of pixels Na of the background region Aa, are sought for, and themain background occupation rate Osa is calculated in accordance to theequation:

    Osa=Ns/(Ns+Na)×100(%).

In the example shown in FIGS. 25(A) through 25(C),

    Ns=9×12=108,

    Na=16×24-9×12=276;

therefore,

    Osa=108/(108+276)×100=2.81(%).

Meanwhile, for example, if the photometric value which is obtained bythe photometric element of the photometric sensor 36 providedseparately, or independently, from the C-MOS image operation processingsensor 40, is used as the photometric value for performing the exposureoperation as performed in the camera shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the sameprocedure, or operation, is carried out. That is, as shown in FIGS.26(A) through 26(D), an inside of the rectangle including the edgecoordinates X_(L), X_(R), Y_(U) and Y_(D) in the subject region isselected as a main subject region As, and an outside of the rectangle isselected as a background region Aa. Then, the number of pixels Ns wherethe centers of gravity are included in the main subject region As, andthe number of pixels Na where the centers of gravity are included in thebackground region Aa, are sought for, and the main background occupationrate Osa is calculated in accordance to the equation:

    Osa=Ns/(Ns+Na)×100(%).

In the example shown in FIGS. 26(A) through 26(D),

    Osa=3/(3+10)×100=23(%).

Next, an operation of the camera will be described below, with referenceto the flowcharts of FIG. 27 through FIG. 35.

First, the operation in the case in which the image data (photometricoutput) from the C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40a is directlyused as the photometric value for the exposure operation as performed inthe camera shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, is explained with reference to aflowchart of FIG. 27.

That is, in step #12, it is determined whether the switch S1 is turnedon or not, as a result of whether the switch S1 is pressed down halfwayor not. If the switch S1 is turned on, then the focusing operation isexecuted by the focusing sensor 38, and the data is stored into amemory, in step #14. Next, in step #16, the image of the region to bephotographed is taken by the C-MOS image operation processing sensor40a, and the image processing information is inputted to the controlmicrocomputer 30. Next, in step #18, the control microcomputer 30determines the photometric region on the basis of the image processinginformation gotten in step #16, and then the image information(photometric output) of the pixels of the C-MOS image operationprocessing sensor 40a with regard to the determined photometric regionis read and stored into the memory, in step #20. Next, an AE operationis executed, in step #22. The aforementioned steps #12 through #22 isrepeated until the shutter button is completely pressed down so that theswitch S2 is switched on (see step #24).

If the switch S2 is turned on instep #24, then a release routinesubsequent to step #26 is executed.

That is, a release preparatory operation, including a mirror up, ashutter charge and so on, is executed in step #28, and then a diaphragm(or an aperture) is driven in step #30 so as to achieve the aperture AVdetermined by the AE operation in step #22. Next, in step #32, theshutter is opened to start the exposure. Then, in steps #34 and #36, aflash gun is made to emit its flash if necessary. Next, in step #38, theshutter speed is counted, and in step #40, the shutter is closed whenthe shutter speed TV determined by the AE operation in step #22 isreached, and then the exposure comes to an end. And then in step #42, anext frame preparation process, including a mirror down, a film feedingby one frame, and so on, is executed.

The steps #16 through #20 in FIG. 27 will be explained below in moredetail, with reference to a detail ed flowchart of FIG. 31.

That is, in step #70, the control microcomputer 30 receives an input ofthe image processing information, including the edge-detectinginformation, the image information and the color information, from theC-MOS image operation processing sensor 40a. Next, in step #72, thecontrol microcomputer 30 receives an input of the vector detectinginformation calculated by the C-MOS image operation processing sensor40a. Then, the control microcomputer 30 determines a photometric area.That is, in step #76, the gravity-center information is calculated, andin step #78, the coordinates within the subject region are calculated.Next, in step #80, the subject region is determined, and in step #82,the photometric region is selected. Next, in step #84, the photometricmeasuring is executed, and then in step #86, the photometric data isread and the program proceeds to the next step.

An AE operation of step #22 of FIG. 27 will be described below, withreference to a pair of detailed flowcharts of FIG. 29 and FIG. 32.

That is, in step #50, the control microcomputer 30 reads the focusingdata obtained in step #14 from the memory, and, in step #52, the controlmicrocomputer 30 reads the image information stored in the step #20 (seeFIG. 27).

Next, the brightness data is calculated in step #54. In more detail, asshown in FIG. 32, in step #90, an average value of the photometric valueBV_(As) i of n photometric elements which are included in the mainsubject region is sought for as a main subject brightness BVS. Then, instep #92, an average value of the photometric value BV_(Aa) j of mphotometric elements which are included in the background region issought for as a background brightness BVA.

Next, it is decided in step #56 whether or not a flash light isnecessary to be emitted, on the basis of the brightness data and so on.

Next, it is decided in step #58 whether or not a flash light control ofthe flash light is necessary. If an emission of the flash light is notnecessary, then an aperture AV for a stationary light, and a shutterspeed TV therefor, are calculated in step #60. On the other hand, if theflash light emission is necessary, then the aperture AV for the flashlight, and the shutter speed TV therefor, are calculated in step #62.

The determination of emission/nonemission of the flash gun in theaforementioned step #56 (in FIG. 29) will be described below, withreference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 33.

That is, in step #102, it is determined whether or not the flash gun isswitched off. If the flash gun is switched off, then a stationary lightcontrol routine, subsequent to step #104, is executed. Namely, in step#106, a brightness data BVT for controlling the exposure is set as amain subject brightness reference data BVS, and in step #108 a flashlight emission demanding flag is set to zero. Next, in step #126, SV isadded to BVT, and the program is returned.

On the other hand, if the flash gun is switched on in step #102, then amanually caused blur limitation brightness is set as BVH in step #110,and then it is determined in step #112 whether or not a rear lightflashing condition is established.

If the rear light flashing condition is established, then a rear lightflashing control routine, subsequent to step #150, is executed. That is,α is added to the background brightness reference data BVA in order toobtain BVT in step #152, and then the flash emission demanding flag isset to 1 (one) in step #124. Thereafter, the aforementioned step #126 isexecuted, and then the program is returned.

If the rear light flashing condition is not established in step #112,then the program proceeds to step #114 where it is determined whether ornot a slow synchronization condition is established.

If the slow synchronization condition is established in step #114, thena slow synchronization control routine subsequent to #140 is executed.That is, in step #142, BVA is made to be equal to BVT, theaforementioned steps #124 and #126 are executed, and then the program isreturned.

On the other hand, if the slow synchronization condition is notestablished in step #114, then it is determined in step #116 whether ornot BVS is smaller than BVH.

If it is determined in step #116 that BVS is smaller than BVH, then aroutine, subsequent to step #130, of a light emission control indarkness is executed. That is, in step #132, BVH is made to be equal toBVT, the aforementioned steps #124 and #126 are executed, and then theprogram is returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #116 that BVS is notsmaller than BVH, then it is determined in step #118 whether or not theflash gun is automatic. If the flash gun is automatic, then theaforementioned stationary light control routine performed after step#104, is executed.

On the other hand, if the flash gun is not automatic, then a compulsorylight emission control routine in step #120 and its subsequent steps isexecuted. That is, in step #122, γ is added to BVS in order to gain BVT,the aforementioned steps #124 and #126 are executed, and then theprogram is returned.

Next, a calculation of the aperture and the shutter speed, at time ofcontrolling the stationary light in step #60 in FIG. 29, will bedescribed below, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 34.

That is, a photographing mode process is executed in step #160, and itis determined in step #162 whether or not EVT is greater than a sum of areference aperture AVO and a manually caused blur limitation shutterspeed TVH.

If EVT is greater than the sum of AVO and TVH, then the program proceedsto step #170 in which an aperture value (diaphragm value) AV is set to avalue which is obtained by adding one half a result of subtracting AVOand TVH from EVT to the reference aperture AVO.

Next, in step #172, the shutter speed TV is set as a value which iscalculated by subtracting the aperture AV from EVT.

And, finally, a limiting process is executed in step #174, and theprogram is returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #162 that EVT is notgreater than the sum of AVO and TVH, then the aperture AV is set to thereference aperture AVO in step #164. Then, in step #166, the shutterspeed TV is set to a value which is calculated by subtracting AV fromEVT, and in step #168 a limiting process is executed, and then theprogram is returned.

Below, a calculation of the aperture AV during the flash light controland a calculation of the shutter speed TV in the aforementioned step #62(see FIG. 29), will be described, with reference to a detailed flowchartof FIG. 35.

That is, a photographing mode process is executed in step #180, and itis determined in step #182 whether or not EVT is greater than the sum ofAVO and a flash synchronization shutter speed TVX.

If EVT is greater than the sum of AVO and TVX, then the program proceedsto step #190 in which the shutter speed TV is set to TVX, and itproceeds to step #192 in which the aperture AV is set to a value whichis calculated by subtracting TV from EVT. Then, a limiting process isexecuted in step #194, and the program is returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #182 that EVT is notgreater than the sum of AVO and TVX, then the program proceeds to step#184 in which the aperture AV is set to the reference aperture AVO.Then, the shutter speed TV is set to a value which is obtained bysubtracting AV from EVT in step #186, a limiting process is executed instep #188, and then the program is returned.

Next, it is explained below about a flow in the case of the arrangement,corresponding to FIG. 4 or 5, in which the photometric element forperforming the exposure operation is provided separately from the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor 40. In this case, its operation isgenerally the same as above; therefore, it is not explained about sameoperation, and it is explained about only the difference(s)therebetween.

Firstly, a fundamental flow is explained, with reference to a generalflowchart of FIG. 28.

That is, the shutter bottom is pressed down halfway, and "on" of theswitch S1 is waited for in step #12.

If the switch S1 is turned on, then a focusing operation is executed instep #14, and then a photometry (i.e. photometric measuring) is executedby the photometric element 36 in step #15. Next, an AE operation isexecuted in step #23, and then, the aforementioned steps #12 through #23are repeated until the shutter button is completely depressed (i.e.pressed down) to switch on the switch S2.

If the switch S2 is turned on, then a release routine is executed inaccordance with the steps #26 through #42 which are the same as thesteps #26 through #42 (see FIG. 27) which are executed in theaforementioned arrangement in which no independent photometric element(or no independent photometric sensor) is employed separately from theC-MOS image operation processing sensor 40a.

An AE operation in step #23 in FIG. 28 will be described below, withreference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 30.

That is, the control microcomputer 30 reads in step #50 the focusingdata obtained in step #14 from the memory. Then, in step #51a, thecontrol microcomputer 30 receives the input of the image processinginformation, the operation of which is approximately the same as theoperation that is executed by the aforementioned arrangement in which noindependent photometric element is employed separately from the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor 40a.

Next, the control microcomputer 30 selects the photometric area in step#51b, reads the photometric data of the photometric elements included inthe photometric area in step #51c, and calculates the brightness data instep #54.

Next, exactly like the aforementioned arrangement in which noindependent photometric element is employed separately from the C-MOSimage operation processing sensor 40a, it is determined in step #56whether or not the emission/nonemission of the flash gun is necessary.

Next, it is determined at step #58 whether or not the light emission ofthe flash gun is necessary. If the light emission is not necessary, thenthe program proceeds to step #60 in which the aperture AV for thestationary light control and the shutter speed TV therefor arecalculated. On the other hand, if the light emission is necessary, thenthe program proceeds to step #62 in which the aperture AV for the lightemission of the flash gun and the shutter speed TV are calculated.

According to the mechanism of the camera described above, the imagetaken by the C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, 40a is made useof, and it is possible to execute the exposure operation with a highaccuracy in a short time.

In the embodiment, the C-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, 40ais employed. Alternatively, an image taking element and an imageprocessing circuit may be separately provided, instead of employing theC-MOS image operation processing sensor 40, 40a. Alternatively, an imageprocessing circuit may be incorporated into the control microcomputer30.

Secondly, referring to FIGS. 4 through 26 and FIGS. 39 through 48, thedescription is made upon the camera according to the second embodimentof the present invention.

The camera according to the second embodiment thereof has a basicconstruction (or mechanism) which is similar to the construction (ormechanism) of the camera according to the first embodiment, or to theconstruction (or mechanism) of the camera according to each of themodifications of the first embodiment.

Namely, for example, the camera according to the second embodiment hasan internal construction which is similar to the internal construction,as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 or 8, of the camera according to the firstembodiment; and a block diagram of the camera according to the secondembodiment is similar to the block diagram, as shown in FIG. 6, of thecamera according to the first embodiment.

Also, the camera according to the second embodiment is similar to thecamera of the first embodiment, in a function which corresponds to thefunction, as shown in FIGS. 9 through 26(D), of the first embodiment.Therefore, FIGS. 4 through 26(D) are used as common figures which arecommon to both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, forconvenience' sake.

On the other hand, the camera according to the second embodiment isdifferent from the camera according to the first embodiment, in steps ofoperation of the camera. Therefore, mainly focusing upon the steps ofoperation, the description is made below upon the camera according tothe second embodiment.

First, a fundamental operation of the camera will be described withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 39.

That is, it is determined in step #1012 whether or not the switch S1 isturned on, in which the switch S1 is turned on when the shutter buttonis pressed down halfway. If the switch S1 is turned on, then a focusingoperation is executed in step #1014, and a photometry (i.e. photometricmeasuring) is executed in step #1016. Each piece of data, output in eachof steps #1014 and #1016, is stored into the memory.

Next, an AE operation (described in more detail, later) is executed instep #1018, in which an exposure condition (a presence or an absence offlash light, an aperture AV, a shutter speed TV), and so on, isdetermined. Next, the aforementioned steps #1012 through #1018 arerepeated until the shutter button is completely depressed to turn on theswitch S2.

If the switch S2 is turned on, then a release routine in steps #1022through step #1038 is executed.

That is, in step #1024, a release preparatory operation, such as amirror up, a shutter charge, and so on, is executed, and then in step#1026, a diaphragm (an aperture) is driven so as to achieve an apertureAV which has been determined in step #1018. Then, in step #1028, theshutter is opened, and the exposure is started. In this stage, a lightis emitted from the flash gun if necessary, through steps #1030 and#1032.

Next, in step #1034, the shutter speed is counted, and in step #1036,the shutter is closed when the shutter speed TV reaches a speed whichhas been determined in step #1018, and then the exposure is terminated.Then, the program proceeds to step #1038 in which a next framepreparation processing, such as a mirror down, a film feeding by oneframe, and so on, is executed.

The AE operation in step #1018 in FIG. 39 will be described below inmore detail, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 40.

That is, in step #1042, the control microcomputer 30 reads the focusingdata, which has been measured in step #1014, from the memory, and, instep #1044, the control microcomputer 30 reads the photometric data,which has been measured in step #1016, from the memory.

Next, in step #1046, the control microcomputer 30 receives an input ofthe image processing information from the image operation processingsensor 40, calculates the information upon subject region in step #1048on the basis of the image processing information, and calculates themain subject brightness and the background brightness in step #1050.

Next, a process of scene determination 1 ("SCENE DETERMINATION 1") isexecuted in step #1052 as described in detail later, and it isdetermined in step #1054 whether or not light emission from the flashgun is necessary. Then, it is determined in step #1056 whether or notthe flash light emission control is necessary.

If the flash light emission control is not executed, then a process ofscene determination 2 ("SCENE DETERMINATION 2") is executed in step#1058 as described later. Next, the aperture AV for the stationary lightcontrol and the shutter speed TV are calculated in step #1060, and theprocess for performing the AE operation comes to an end.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1056 that the flashlight emission control of the flash gun is performed, a flash emissiondemanding flag is set to one, and then the aperture AV for the flashlight control and the shutter speed TV are calculated in step #1062.Next, as described in detail later, a light adjustment contribution rateis calculated in step #1064, a light adjustment compensation value iscalculated in step #1066, and the process for performing the AEoperation comes to an end.

The aforementioned steps #1046 and #1048 will be described in moredetail below, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 41.

First, an image processing information input routine in step #1072 andits subsequent steps is executed.

That is, in step #1072, the control microcomputer 30 receives an inputof the image processing information, such as the edge-detectinginformation, image information and color information, from the imageoperation processing sensor 40, and it stores the information into thememory. The control microcomputer 30 further receives, in step #1074, aninput of a vector Vn which is obtained by calculating a differencebetween frames by the image operation processing sensor 40.

Next, the control microcomputer 30 executes a routine for calculatingthe information upon subject region, in step #1076 and its subsequentsteps.

That is, in step #1078, centers of gravity G₁, G₂, . . . , G_(k) areobtained for each series of edges. Next, in step #1080, edge coordinatesXL_(j), XR_(j), YU_(j) and YD_(j) in which the X-coordinate or theY-coordinate is equal to that of the center of gravity G_(j), areobtained for each series of edges (j=1, 2, . . . , k).

Next, the information upon subject region is calculated in step #1082.That is, each region surrounded by a series of edges is, respectively,set as the main subject region As_(j) (j32 1, 2, . . . , k), and otherregions are set as the background region Aa. Then, the averagebrightness within the region, size information and the degree ofpriority, are obtained per each region.

More specifically, the average brightness BVs_(j--) ave (j=1, 2, . . . ,k) within the region of the main subject region As_(j) is the averagevalue of photometric outputs BVAs_(j) 1, BVAs_(j) 2, . . . , BVAs_(j)n_(j) of the pixels located inside the main subject regions As_(j)(assuming that there are n_(j) pixels in total). The average brightnessBVa₋₋ ave within the region of the background region Aa is the averagevalue of photometric outputs BVAa1, BVAa2, . . . , BVAam of the pixelsin the region that is included in neither one of the main subjectregions As_(j) (assuming that there are m pixels in total) . Sizeinformation S_(j) of the main subject region As_(j) is the number ofpixels n_(j) (j=1, 2, . . . , k) included in the main subject regionAs_(j).

BY the way, the size information S_(j) may be obtained from the sizesLx_(j) and Ly_(j) in the X- and Y-directions of each main subject regionAs_(j), according to the equation: S_(j) =Lx_(j) ×Ly_(j) (j=1, 2, . . ., k). The degree of priority P_(j) of each main subject region As_(j) issought, on a basis of information upon distance (information upon themost proximity), information upon size (number of pixels), a regionlocated around the center, a region having the highest brightness(contra-rear light), a region having the lowest brightness (rear light),or the like. It is also acceptable to set all the degrees of priorityequal to one another, with the arrangement of which an equivalentaverage photometric state is realized to allow the operation to besimplified.

Next, a main background occupation rate Osa is calculated in step #1084.The main background occupation rate Osa is calculated according to theequation:

    Osa=Nk/(Nk+m)×100(%)

from the total Nk=n₁ +n₂ + . . . +n_(k) of the number of pixels n_(j) ofeach main subject region As_(j) and from the number of pixels m of thebackground region Aa.

By the way, in the aforementioned steps #1078 through #1084, a series ofedges may be grouped, or classified, by using the color information(i.e. information upon color) and the vector information (informationupon vector), and then it may be processed in the manner similar to themanner as aformentioned.

Next, the calculation of the brightness data in the aforementioned step#1050 of FIG. 40 will be described in more detail below, with referenceto a detailed flowchart of FIG. 42.

That is, in step #1090, a weighted average of the intra-regional averagebrightness values BVs_(j).sbsb.-- ave (i.e. average brightness valuesBVs_(j).sbsb.-- ave within the region) of each main subject regionsAs_(j) is obtained by making use of the degree of priority P_(j), andthe main subject brightness reference data BVS is calculated. That is,the calculation is executed according to the equation:

    BVS=(P.sub.1 ×n.sub.1 ×BVs.sub.2.sbsb.-- ave+P.sub.2 ×n.sub.2 ×BVs.sub.2.sbsb.-- ave+ . . . +P.sub.k ×n.sub.k ×BVs.sub.k.sbsb.-- ave)/(P.sub.1 ×n.sub.1 +P.sub.2 ×n.sub.2 + . . . +P.sub.k ×n.sub.k).

Next, in step #1092, the intra-regional average brightness BVa₋₋ ave ofthe background region Aa obtained in step #1082 is set as the backgroundbrightness reference data BVA within the background region.

Next, the scene determination 1 in the aforementioned step #1052 of FIG.40 will be described in more detail below, with reference to a detailedflowchart of FIG. 43.

First, a rear light scene determination routine in step #1102 and itssubsequent steps is executed.

That is, a main background brightness difference

    ΔBAsa=BVS-BVA

is calculated in step #1104. Next, in step #1106 a degree of rear lightD_(BL) is calculated using the following TABLE (TABLE 7) from the mainbackground brightness difference ΔBAsa and the main backgroundoccupation rate Osa.

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                        Degree of Rear Light: D.sub.BL Calculation TABLE                              .increment.Bvsa     from -3   from -1.5                                                                            -0.5 or                                  Osa       Less than -3                                                                            to -1.5   to -0.5                                                                              more                                     ______________________________________                                        Less than  30       20        10      0                                       15%                                                                           from 15 to                                                                               90       60        30     20                                       40%                                                                           from 40 to                                                                              100       80        50     20                                       70%                                                                           70% or more                                                                              50       40        15      0                                       ______________________________________                                    

Next, a rear light flash flag BLFL₋₋ F is set in step #1108.Specifically, if there is a relation: BVA>BV7.5 and D_(BL) >65, then anequation

    BLFL.sub.-- F=1

is set; on the other hand, if there is not the above relation, then anequation

    BLFL.sub.-- F=0

is set. Into this arrangement, may be incorporated image magnificationinformation (i.e. information upon image magnification).

Next, a slow synchronization scene determination routine in step #1110and its subsequent steps is executed.

First, in step #1112, edge-detecting information is inputted again.Next, light source information is detected in step #1114. Specifically,the information of which the edge brightness difference is not smallerthan a specified value (BV8, for example) among the edge-detectinginformation is extracted. If the size information S_(K) is used, thenthe number S_(K) of pixels, satisfying a relation of S_(K) >10 pixels(provisional), out of the regions surrounded by the detected edges, isset as an indoor light source number: n_(in), and the number S_(K) ofpixels, satisfying a relation of SK≦10 pixels (provisional), is set asan outdoor light source number: n_(out).

If the color information is used, then the number S_(K) of pixels, thatsatisfies a relation of SK>10 pixels and that satisfies a condition inwhich the ratio of G is not smaller than a specified value (0.5, forexample) in terms of the ratios of R, G and B (1.0 in total), out of theregions surrounded by the detected edges, is set as an indoor lightsource number: n_(in) (corresponding to the number of detectedfluorescent lamps), and the number of pixels other than the above numberS_(K) of pixels is set as an outdoor light source number: n_(out).

Next, in step #1116, a degree of outdoor photographing Dout iscalculated from the indoor light source number n_(in) and the outdoorlight source number n_(out) with reference to the following TABLE.

                  TABLE 8                                                         ______________________________________                                        Degree of Outdoor Photographing: Dout Calcalation TABLE                       nin                                                                           n out    0      from 1 to 2 from 3 to 4                                                                           5 or More                                 ______________________________________                                        0         50    20          10       0                                        from 1 to 3                                                                             70    50          40      10                                        from 4 to 6                                                                             90    60          50      30                                        7 or More                                                                              100    80          70      50                                        ______________________________________                                    

Next, in step #1118, an outdoor slow synchronization flag SLOWOUT₋₋ Fand an indoor slow synchronization flag SLOWIN₋₋ F are set. It isassumed that SLOWOUT₋₋ F=1 if both BVA<BV2 and Dout>65 are satisfied;meawhile, it is assumed that SLOWOUT₋₋ F=0 if BVA<BV2 and Dout>65 arenot satisfied. Also, it is assumed that SLOWIN₋₋ F=1 if both BV2<BVA<BV6and Dout>35 are satisfied; meawhile, it is assumed that SLOWIN₋₋ F=0 ifBV2≦BVA<BV6 and Dout>35 are not satisfied.

Next, a determination of light emission/nonemission of flash gun in theaforementioned step #1054 of FIG. 40 will be described in more detailbelow, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 44.

First, it is determined in step #1122 whether or not the flash gun isoff.

If the flash gun is off, then a stationary light control routine in step#1124 and its subsequent steps is executed.

That is, BVT is made to be the main subject brightness reference dataBVS obtained in the aforementioned step #1090 of FIG. 42, and a flashemission demanding flag is set to zero in step #1128. Then, SV is addedto BVT to gain EVT (i.e. EVT=BVT+SV) in step #1146, and the program isreturned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1122 that the flash gunis on, then the value of BVH is set to a manually caused blur limitationbrightness in step #1130, and it is determined in step #1132 whether ornot a rear light flashing condition is established.

If the rear light flashing condition is established, namely if BLFL₋₋F=1, then a rear light flashing control routine in step #1158 and itssubsequent steps is executed.

That is, in step #1160, α is added to the background brightnessreference data BVA obtained in the aforementioned step #1092 of FIG. 42to gain BVT (i.e. BVT=BVA+α), and the flash emission demanding flag isset to 1 in step #1144. Thereafter, the aforementioned step #1146 isexecuted, and the program is returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1132 that the rear lightflashing condition is not established, then the program proceeds to step#1134 in which it is determined whether or not the slow synchronizationcondition is established.

If the slow synchronization condition is established, namely ifSLOWOUT₋₋ F=1 or SLOWIN₋₋ F=1, then a slow synchronization controlroutine in step #1154 and its subsequent steps is executed.

That is, in step #1156, BVT is made to be equal to BVA, theaforementioned steps #1144 and #1146 are executed, and then the programis returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1134 that the slowsynchronization condition is not established, then the program proceedsto step #1136 in which it is determined whether or not BVS is smallerthan BVH.

If BVS is smaller than BVH, then a routine of a light emission controlin darkness in step #1150 and its subsequent steps is executed.

That is, BVT is made to be equal to BVH in step #1152, theaforementioned steps #1144 and #1146 are excuted, and then the programis returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1136 that BVS is notsmaller than BVH, the program proceeds to step #1138 in which it isdetermined whether or not the flash gun is automatically operated. Ifthe flash gun is automatic, then the stationary light control routine inthe aforementioned step #1124 and its subsequent steps is executed.

On the other hand, if the flash gun is not automatic, then a compulsorylight emission control routine in step #1140 and its subsequent steps isexecuted. That is, γ is added to BVS to make BVT in step #1142, theaforementioned steps #1144 and #1146 are performed, and then the programis returned.

Next, a calculation of the aperture AV and a calculation of the shutterspeed TV, at time of the stationary light control as shown in step #1160of FIG. 40, will be described in more detail below, with reference to adetailed flowchart of FIG. 45.

That is, in step #1202, a photographing mode process is executed andthen a routine of a scene determination 2 ("SCENE DETERMINATION 2") instep #1204 and its subsequent steps is executed.

That is, an inclination δ is calculated in step #1206. The inclination δcan be any value which is equal to or more than zero (0) and which isequal to or less than one (1). When δ is greater, the aperture is madenarrower, and the shutter speed is set to be slower (lower). Meanwhile,when δ is smaller, the aperture is made wider, and the shutter speed isset to be higher.

The inclination δ is obtained from a focal length f1 and the mainbackground occupation rate Osa, according to the following δ calculationTABLE (TABLE 9).

                  TABLE 9                                                         ______________________________________                                        δ Calculation TABLE (Example 1) (If Focal Length (fl) Is Used)          Fl       Less than                                                                              from 35    From 50                                                                              85 mm or                                  Osa      35 mm    to 50 mm   to 85 mm                                                                             More                                      ______________________________________                                        Less than                                                                              1.0      0.9        0.7    0.6                                       15%                                                                           from 15 to                                                                             0.9      0.8        0.6    0.5                                       35%                                                                           from 35 to                                                                             0.6      0.6        0.3    0.2                                       60%                                                                           from 60 to                                                                             0.4      0.3        0.2    0.1                                       80%                                                                           80% or More                                                                            0.6      0.5        0.6    0.7                                       ______________________________________                                    

Alternatively, the inclination δ may be obtained from an imagemagnification ratio β and the main background occupation rate Osa,according to the following δ calculation TABLE (TABLE 10).

                  TABLE 10                                                        ______________________________________                                        δ Calculation TABLE (Example 2)                                         (If Image Magnification Ratio (β) Is Used)                               β  1/10 or from 1/10                                                                              From 1/40                                                                             from 1/70                                                                            Less than                             Osa     More    to 1/40  to 1/70 to 1/100                                                                             1/100                                 ______________________________________                                        Less than                                                                             0.7     0.6      0.4     0.6    1.0                                   15%                                                                           from 15 to                                                                            0.6     0.5      0.3     0.6    1.0                                   35%                                                                           from 35 to                                                                            0.5     0.4      0.1     0.3    0.9                                   60%                                                                           from 60 to                                                                            0.6     0.3      0.2     0.2    0.8                                   80%                                                                           80% or More                                                                           0.7     0.5      0.3     0.3    0.7                                   ______________________________________                                    

By the way, focal length information (information upon the focaldistance) may be incorporated into this TABLE.

Next, in step #1208, the inclination δ is corrected, or compensated, onthe basis of vector detecting information Vn. That is, if Vn>Cv, thenthe value of δ is made to be one half. In this case, Cv is a constant,and Cv=1 mm/cm on the screen, for example. With this setting, if thevector detecting information Vn is higher than a specified value Cn,then it is assumed that the subject is a moving object or a sportsscene, and δ is shifted to the high-speed side.

Next, it is determined in step #1210 whether or not EVT is greater thanthe sum of AVO and TVH. In this case, AVO is a reference aperture, andTVH is a manually caused blur limitation shutter speed.

If EVT is greater than the sum of AVO and TVH, then the aperture:

    AV=AVO+δ×(EVT-(AVO+TVH))

is calculated in step #1218. Then, in step #1220, AV is subtracted fromEVT to set the shutter speed TV. Then, finally, a limitation process isexecuted in step #1222, and the program is returned.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1210 that EVT is notgreater than the sum of AVO and TVH, then the program proceeds to step#1212 in which the reference aperture AVO is made to be equal to AV instep #1212, and then AV is subtracted from EVT to determine the shutterspeed TV. Then, finally, a limitation process is executed in step #1216,and then the program is returned.

Next, a calculation of the aperture AV and a calculation of the shutterspeed TV, at time of the flash light control as shown in theaforementioned step #1062 of FIG. 40, will be described below in moredetail, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 46.

That is, in step #1302, a photographing mode process is executed, and itis determined in step #1304 whether or not EVT is greater than the sumof AVO and TVX (flash synchronization shutter speed).

If EVT is greater than the sum of AVO and TVX, then TVX is made to beequal to the shutter speed TV in step #1316, TV is subtracted from EVTto determine the aperture AV in step #1318, and a limitation process isexecuted in step #1320.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step #1304 that EVT is notgreater than the sum of AVO and TVX, then the program proceeds to step#1306 in which the reference aperture AVO is made to be equal to theaperture AV, a value obtained by subtracting AV from EVT is set as theshutter speed TV in step #1308, and a limitation process is executed instep #1310.

After the limitation process in step #1310 or #1320 is performed, thelight adjustment contribution rate is calculated in step #1064 asdescribed above, and the light adjustment compensation value iscalculated in step #1066.

Next, these steps #1064 and #1066 will be further described in moredetail below.

First, a calculation of the light adjustment contribution rate in theaforementioned step #1064 of FIG. 46, will be described, with referenceto a detailed flowchart of FIG. 47.

That is, in step #1402, a weight (contribution rate) wt (wt0, wt1, . . ., wtn) of each light adjustment cell C0, C1, . . . , Cn is set to zeroas an initial value.

Next, in step #1404, the light adjustment contribution rate of each cellis calculated in step #1404. The information upon region (i.e.coordinates) of each light adjustment cell is of a predetermined valuethat is known beforehand. In this step, it is determined whether or notthere exist(s) a center of gravity Gk of the main subject region A_(SK),and/or the number j of intra-regional coordinates X_(LK), X_(RK), Y_(UK)and Y_(DK) in the main subject region A_(SK), within the region per eachlight adjustment cell Cn. And, in this step, if there exist(s), each ofthe numbers is checked (or sought for). Further, if the center ofgravity G_(K) of the region A_(SK) exists, then the information S_(K)upon size of the region A_(SK), and the degree of priority Pk of theregion A_(SK), are checked. Then, the contribution rate wtn" of eachcell is sought for, in accordance with the following equation:

    wtn"=R1×(Pk1×S.sub.K 1+Pk2×S.sub.K 2+ . . . +Pki×S.sub.K i)+R2×j

where R1 and R2 are constants (R1=R2=1, for example).

Next, a light adjustment contribution rate wtn' is standardized in step#1406, according to the following equation:

    wtn'=8×wtn"/max(wt1", . . . wtm").

With this standardization, the maximum contribution rate (weight) can bestandardized as 8, and this contribution rate (weight) becomes the finalcontrol weight in the multi-division light adjustment.

Next, an average degree of light adjustment Dave is calculated in step#1408, from a distance D (unit: meter) up to the subject, and from themain background occupation rate Osa, on a basis of the following TABLE(TABLE 11).

                  TABLE 11                                                        ______________________________________                                        Dave Calculation TABLE                                                        D(m)     Smaller   from 1  from 2 from 4                                                                              8 m or                                Osa      than 1 m  to 2 m  to 4 m to 8 m                                                                              More                                  ______________________________________                                        Less than 15%                                                                          80        90      90     100   100                                   from 15 to 35%                                                                         50        60      80      90   100                                   from 35 to 60%                                                                         30        20      10      0     10                                   from 60 to 80%                                                                         50        10       0      10    20                                   80% or More                                                                            60        50      30      40    50                                   ______________________________________                                    

This average degree of light adjustment Dave is for the purpose ofsetting to an average contribution rate when the main backgroundoccupation rate Osa is low.

Next, in step #1410, the final light adjustment contribution rate wtn iscalculated according to the following equation:

    wtn=(Dave×8+(100-Dave)×wtn')/100.

The final light adjustment contribution rate wtn can be any value whichis equal to or more than zero, and which is equal to or less than 8.

Next, a routine of a light adjustment compensation value calculation inthe aforementioned step #1066 of FIG. 40 and FIG. 46, will be describedin more detail below, with reference to a detailed flowchart of FIG. 48.

In step #1502, a light adjustment compensation value ΔEV_(FL) iscalculated from the distance D up to the subject and from the mainbackground occupation rate Osa, in accordance with the following TABLE(TABLE 12).

                  TABLE 12                                                        ______________________________________                                        .increment.EV.sub.FL Calculation TABLE (Unit: EV)                             D(m)     Smaller   from 1  from 2 from 4                                                                              8 m or                                OSa      than 1 m  to 2 m  to 4 m to 8 m                                                                              More                                  ______________________________________                                        Less than 15%                                                                          1.0       1.3     1.5    1.5   1.2                                   from 15 to 35%                                                                         0.7       1.0     1.2    1.0   0.8                                   from 35 to 60%                                                                         0.6       0.5     0.7    0.7   0.5                                   from 60 to 80%                                                                         0.4       0.2     0.3    0.3   0.4                                   80% or More                                                                            0.5       0.0     0.0    0.1   0.2                                   ______________________________________                                    

Next, in step #1504, a color compensation ΔEVc is calculated from theratios of R, G and B, in accordance with the following TABLE (TABLE 13).It is to be noted that ΔEVc is calculated, only when color informationcan be obtained.

                  TABLE 13                                                        ______________________________________                                        .increment.EV.sub.c Calculation TABLE                                         G/R        Less than                                                                              from 0.3    from 1                                                                              2 or                                    B/R        0.3      to 1        to 2  More                                    ______________________________________                                        Less than 0.3                                                                            0        -0.2        0.5   0.7                                     from 0.3 to 1                                                                            -0.2     -0.8        0.4   0.6                                     from 1 to 2                                                                              0.5      0.4         0.2   0.5                                     2 or More  0.7      0.6         0.5   0.4                                     ______________________________________                                    

Next, in step #1506, a speed value SV of a setting film is calculated.Next, a control film speed value SVc is calculated in step #1508 inaccordance with the following equation, and then the program isreturned.

    SVC=SV+(+/-)+(+/-).sub.FL +ΔEV.sub.FL +ΔEVC

where (+/-) represents an exposure compensation value which is set bythe user, and (+/-)_(FL) represents a light adjustment compensationvalue which is set by the user.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connectionwith the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various other changes andother modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are to be understood as included within thescope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unlessthey depart therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera, comprising:an image sensor for sensingan image of a subject to be photographed, and for outputting subjectregion information by processing data of the image; a plurality of lightmeasuring sensors for optically measuring a plurality of dividedphotometric regions, wherein each of the light measuring sensors outputsa photometric value of a corresponding divided photometric region; aselector for selecting at least one of the divided photometric regions,on a basis of the subject region information which is output from theimage sensor; and a calculator for calculating an exposure controlvalue, on a basis of the photometric value of the at least one of thedivided photometric regions selected by the selector.
 2. The camera asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the subject region information includesinformation upon a main subject region,wherein the selector selects theat least one of the divided photometric regions, in which the at leastone thereof corresponds generally to the main subject region.
 3. Thecamera as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a distancedetecting sensor for focusing at least one region, and for outputtingfocusing information,wherein the selector selects the at least one ofthe divided photometric regions, on the basis of the subject regioninformation which is output from the image sensor and on a basis of thefocusing information which is output from the distance detecting sensor.4. The camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the subject regioninformation includes information upon a main subject region,wherein theselector selects the at least one of the divided photometric regions, inwhich the at least one thereof corresponds generally to the main subjectregion and is focussed.
 5. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesubject region information includes information upon a region other thana main subject region,wherein the selector selects the at least one ofthe divided photometric regions, in which the at least one thereofcorresponds generally to the region other than the main subject region.6. The camera as claimed in claim 5, which further comprises a distancedetecting sensor for focusing at least one region, and for outputtingfocusing information,wherein the selector selects the at least one ofthe divided photometric regions, in which the at least one thereofcorresponds generally to the region other than the main subject regionand is not focussed.
 7. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein theimage sensor detects at least one of:(1) a contour of the subject; (2) aspeed and a direction of movement of the subject; and (3) a color of thesubject, wherein the image sensor outputs the subject region informationby processing data of the image, on a basis of information upon the atleast one thereof the image sensor detects.
 8. The camera as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the image sensor is constituted by a single elementwhich comprises:a light receiving part; and an image processing part. 9.A camera, comprising:an image sensor for sensing an image of a subjectto be photographed, and for outputting subject region information byprocessing data of the image; a detector for detecting a brightness of amain subject of the subject, on a basis of the subject regioninformation output by the image sensor; and a calculator for calculatingan exposure control value, on a basis of the brightness, detected by thedetector, of the main subject.
 10. The camera as claimed in claim 9,which further comprises a plurality of light measuring sensors foroptically measuring a plurality of divided photometric regions, whereineach of the light measuring sensors outputs a photometric value of acorresponding divided photometric region,wherein the detector detectsthe brightness of the main subject of the subject, on a basis of thesubject region information output by the image sensor and thephotometric value output by each of the light measuring sensors.
 11. Thecamera as claimed in claim 9, which further comprises a distancedetecting sensor for focusing at least one region, and for outputtingfocusing information,wherein the detector detects the brightness of themain subject of the subject, on a basis of the subject regioninformation output by the image sensor and the focusing informationoutput by the distance detecting sensor.
 12. The camera as claimed inclaim 10, wherein when the image sensor outputs a plurality of pieces ofmain subject region information, the detector detects the brightness ofthe main subject by weighing the photometric value corresponding to eachmain subject region.
 13. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein thedetector sets a degree of priority relative to each main subject region,andwherein the detector detects the brightness of the main subject, byweighing the photometric value corresponding to each main subject regionon a basis of the degree of priority.
 14. The camera as claimed in claim9, wherein the image sensor detects at least one of:(1) a contour of thesubject; (2) a speed and a direction of movement of the subject; and (3)a color of the subject, wherein the image sensor outputs the subjectregion information by processing data of the image, on a basis ofinformation upon the at least one thereof the image sensor detects. 15.The camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image sensor isconstituted by a single element which comprises:a light receiving part;and an image processing part.
 16. A camera, comprising:an image sensorfor sensing an image of a subject to be photographed, and for outputtingimage process information by processing data of the image; adiscriminator for discriminating a photographing scene on a basis of theimage process information which is output from the image sensor; aplurality of light measuring sensors for optically measuring a pluralityof divided photometric regions, wherein each of the light measuringsensors outputs a photometric value of a corresponding dividedphotometric region; and a calculator for calculating an exposure controlvalue, on a basis of discrimination data which is output from thediscriminator and of the photometric value which is output from each ofthe light measuring sensors.
 17. The camera as claimed in claim 16,which further comprises a distance detecting sensor for focusing atleast one region, and for outputting focusing information,wherein thediscriminator discriminates the photographing scene, on the basis of theimage process information which is output from the image sensor, and ona basis of the focusing information which is output from the distancedetecting sensor.
 18. The camera as claimed in claim 16, wherein thediscriminator discriminates the photographing scene on the basis of apiece of information upon a proportion of a main subject region to aregion except the main subject region relative to a photographingregion, in which the image process information comprises the piece ofinformation thereupon.
 19. The camera as claimed in claim 16, whereinthe image process information which is output from the image sensorincludes information upon at least one of:(1) a contour of the subject;(2) a vector indicating a speed and a direction of movement of thesubject; and (3) a color of the subject.
 20. The camera as claimed inclaim 16, wherein the image sensor is constituted by a single elementwhich comprises:a light receiving part; and an image processing part.